"I figured, How could a few tanning-bed trips be that bad?" —Emilee Anne Alexander, 30

Risk factor: Occasional tanning-bed visits

"I admit, I wasn't always sun-smart. In college, I would hit the tanning bed before spring break to get a nice base so I wouldn't burn in Mexico. A tiny blemish I'd had for years on my left cheek started to grow; it turned out to be basal cell carcinoma. I was shocked—cancer had never crossed my mind, and now it was on the middle of my face! It sounds vain, but after I wrapped my mind around the fact that I had cancer, my biggest worry was having a scar. I was angry at myself for not taking better care of my skin. Now I was paying the price. My dermatologist, Ellen Marmur, M.D., recommended a procedure called Mohs surgery. It has a high success rate for basal cell skin cancer and removes only the smallest amount of skin necessary. Still, I was trembling beforehand. What if the scar didn't heal properly? A few days later, I got my driver's license renewed—swollen face, bandages, stitches and all. My scar has since faded, but that photo is a permanent image of pain that reminds me to never step near a tanning bed again."

"My doctor said my mole was nothing. It was melanoma." —Jill Kargman, 37

Risk factors: None

"I asked my dermatologist about the small mole on my inner thigh several times over the course of three years, and he dismissed me for being overly sensitive. Randomly, I went to see a different derm for Botox, and she wanted to do a biopsy. A week later, I was pushing my son in his stroller, caught in a torrential downpour, and my cell rang. The doctor told me that not only did I have skin cancer, but the type I had, amelanotic melanoma, was rare and potentially deadly. I felt ill and absolutely panicked. I had three children under the age of 7. What would become of them if something happened to me? Only 72 hours later, I was in surgery. The cancer had spread below the surface of the mole. My surgeon needed to remove it, along with the lymph nodes near my groin. I wasn't worried about a scar or pain or whether I could have more kids—all of that paled in comparison to the possibility of dying. I was in a wheelchair for weeks, and two years later, I still have a 6-inchlong scar and almost no feeling in the top of my right leg. Weirdly, I'm proud of my scar. I don't shrink from swimsuits—or sex! When women ask me about it, I tell them my story and say, 'If a doctor doesn't take you seriously, get a second opinion. It could save your life.'"

"I had a pimple on my face that wouldn't go away, so I went to my dermatologist. What I didn't notice was that I had a similar raised spot on my shoulder that bled on its own. The news was bad: Both were basal cell carcinomas. I grew up in Florida, going sailing and playing tennis all day without sunscreen. In the past few years, my parents and my grandmother have all had basal cell cancers removed. Now I was the one who could have scars for life. I dreaded the possibility that people would stare at me or that I would have to explain what happened again and again. The worst part? On the day of my surgery, I learned that my insurance covers only one procedure a day. You mean I have to go through all of this again? It made no sense to me, but that's what I had to do. You always think it can't happen to you, until it happens. Lesson learned."

How to Spot Skin Cancer

Basal cell carcinoma: The most common type of skin cancer, it can be a patch, sore or bump. It's often red or white, and frequently on sun-exposed spots such as your face, neck, ears and arms.

Squamous cell carcinoma: Often found on areas that get the most sun, this growth can have scaly, crusty, reddish patches. It may look like a wart or an open sore that does not heal.

Melanoma: It is typically a brownish-black mole, but melanomas can also be other colors. Look for asymmetry, uneven borders and changes in size, shape or elevation.

When to Get Scanned

__Go every three months if...__You've already had melanoma.

__Go every six months if...__You've had basal or squamous cell carcinoma, any abnormal moles, benign or cancerous; you have a family history of skin cancer; or you spend most of your day outdoors.

__Go every year if...__You've never had skin cancer or abnormal moles, you don't have a family history of skin cancer, and you don't spend the majority of your time in the sun.

4 New Ways to Stay Safe

SPF? Check! Now take these other steps to defend yourself.

1. Drink coffee. Three cups of joe a day lower your risk for basal cell cancer by 20 percent, according to research at Harvard Medical School. It's not clear why, but scientists suspect caffeine has protective benefits, says researcher Jiali Han, Ph.D.

2. Get enough vitamin D and calcium. Taking both lowered the risk for melanoma in older women who had prior nonmelanoma skin cancer, a study from Stanford University finds. Whatever your age or medical history, you need 600 international units of vitamin D (have a doctor check your level) and 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. Get calcium from foods such as nonfat dairy and D from a pill—not sunshine.

3. Chill out. In a study from Ohio State University, stressed animals had 2.5 times more squamous cell carcinomas after UV exposure than did unstressed animals. A calmer you could mean stronger immunity against cancer.

4. Block up better. You already apply sunscreen, but you can also wear workout clothing that are UPF 50 or higher. And if you use a sunscreen spray, you should rub it in evenly so you don't miss spots, Dr. Marmur says.